Monday, August 08, 2011

Hup Hup Holland!

Different Lines in madelinetosh sock 'citric' and 'nikko blue'
Things you most likely know about me by now: when I promise you phenomena such as a cavalcade of knits, you that this likely means you won't see hide nor hair of me for a month. Oops! Hey, it's hard work having both your kids at camp--suddenly finding oneself with deep existential choices such as
Shall I have a Moscow Mule or a Dark n Stormy for dinner? Which buttermilk-based Smitten Kitchen recipe shall I make next? And--now this last one is knitting related--Would Button Jar or Longjohns be the most appealing choice for my Rhinebeck sweater? Why your day can get eaten right up by such preoccupations!
Different Lines in madelinetosh sock 'citric' and 'nikko blue'
You know another thing that can eat your day right up?
Doing another Veera Välimäki shawl pattern...
Different Lines in madelinetosh sock 'citric' and 'nikko blue'
The Specs
Pattern: Different Lines by Veera Välimäki
Yarn: madelinetosh tosh sock in 'Nikko Blue' and 'Citric'
Needles: Size 6 Kollage Square Firm Cable, because the Soft Cable ones swim with the fishes, if you know what I mean.
Mods: I did three extra stripes, partly because I fancied a longer shawl than the ones I'd seen, but mainly because I knew a 1/6 of a skein of 'Citric' would be of little use to me and thus ragemaking. Glad I did, it is indeed the perfect size.
Different Lines in madelinetosh sock 'citric' and 'nikko blue'
Now there is no doubt in my mind that when you read the whiny grousing on my part w/r/t/ the Stripe Study Shawl, the whole
waah-it's taking-a-long-time-and-giving-me-knitting-zombie-brain folderol, you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was in all likelihood moments away from casting on for another VV pattern and signing up for another tour of duty in garter stitch/short row boot camp. And you were so right. You know me better than I know myself!
Different Lines in madelinetosh sock 'citric' and 'nikko blue'
I really strongly recommend this pattern. The shape is quite different from the Stripe-Study as when all is said and done you end with a garment that is quite a pleasingly odd shape. I can well imagine this will do double duty as a shawl and a scarfy thing.
Different Lines in madelinetosh sock 'citric' and 'nikko blue'
You see here that the stars converged and the universe aligned to allow me to have two of my three models in the same place at the same time [kids do eventually return from camp, thankfully, and jolt you back into a life of slightly less indulgence]. How could I not take advantage of such a fortuitous event? You can see from the picture that the shawl is quite expansive and can easily accommodate both.
Different Lines in madelinetosh sock 'citric' and 'nikko blue'
I had been dying to put together these colors--this particular shade of blue with this very shade of orange--forever. Very hup hup Holland, don't you agree? Another thing about me? I am a lover of all things Dutch: Double Dutch Bus, Dutch Wonderland, Pass the Dutch(ie), Dutch Bulbs, Dutch Wooden Sneakers from Holland....but come to think of it, not Dutch Treat so much and I am definitely glad I never had a Dutch Uncle.

So, yeah. Isn't this the part of the post when I promise you the moon about FOs coming down the pike? Hmmm...maybe a litle Dutch Rock instead?


18 comments:

erin said...

I love the shawl! I've been wanting to knit either one (or both) of those shawls by Veera ever since they came out, and I love your versions.

Also - those are the exact shades of my high school colors.

cauchy09 said...

this really is the most perfect color combo ever and the shawl is gorgeous. Gorgeous!

nice to know someone who tortures herself just like i do myself. :o)

Sarah said...

This is a great color combination, though I must admit it makes my eyes hurt just a little bit -- in a good way, though.

I'm about ready to start my own VV shawl/scarf thing with some handspun, so I'm glad to hear that they're a good experience in the long run.

Mereknits said...

Great shawl, and beautiful models....what more could you ask for?
Meredith

Kathy said...

I love it!!

Sue said...

Love the shawl, love the way you think (so comforting to know there are others who ruminate their days away over recipes and knitting!) Check out skinnytaste.com for some great recipes!

Eva said...

I loove how these two colors work together. I just might copy you and pair them in something myself.

Monica said...

Beautiful shawl and really beautiful models! Your daughter is adorable-she looks like that actress who plays Haley on Modern Family. Do you ever hear that?

Rue said...

Love that color combo! It must have been such fun to knit.

Camp sounds like the big-kid version of babies' long naps :) I can only imagine how much knitting that means .

margaux said...

gorgeous! so if you had to choose which do you like better?? (dare I ask!) want to make one or the other for myself... it's tearing at me!

lauren said...

You crack me up. And I LOVE this shawl.

Andi said...

Love your color choices. They looks beautiful together.
That video cracked me up with the dutch dancers in the background. :)

Anonymous said...

OMG! Oh. My. God! "I'm Your Venus" was the very first pop song I went mad for when I was a kid! I never saw that video before! Funny,

peaknits said...

Wow - the colors pop like mad - I love it!

Anonymous said...

isn,t all knit rows enslaving? Like your Dutch shawlcolour, hup really means up, jump, come on. Dutch often means Deutsch=German, as they are our neighbours I guess much rubbed off on us. A real treat is a Dutch Rusk, slightly buttered and raw strawberries on top, bit of sugar, delicious, you should try it, beats cupcakes any time, just saying.

Anonymous said...

I'm knitting this now and I have to say I was so happy to hear you put 3 extra stripes in since I kept feeling like "geez this i gonna be small ... again."

Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Love love love the shawl! Those colors together are freaking spectacular. Before moving to PA I had never heard of scrapple, but that's more Pennsylvania dutch...

Yarny Days said...

This is beautiful! And what great pictures!